9 Steps for Big Garlic: How to Grow Large Garlic Bulbs

January 25, 2026 Bill Hageman

9 Steps For Big Garlic (and how to grow large garlic bulbs)

If you’re searching for how to grow big garlic or how to grow large garlic bulbs, the “bulb size” recipe is surprisingly consistent: start with large cloves, give each plant space, keep growth steady through spring, then time harvest and curing correctly.

Quick answer (for bigger bulbs):

Space cloves 6 inches apart (crowding is a top cause of small bulbs).
Plant pointy end up, typically 1–2 inches deep (deeper in colder areas).
Feed for strong leaf growth in early spring, then taper nitrogen as bulbing begins.
Keep moisture consistent in spring, then taper watering as plants near maturity.
For hardneck garlic, remove scapes to help direct energy into bulbs.
Harvest when about half the leaves have yellowed, then cure in shade with airflow.

Step 1: Choose the right type for your climate

Garlic is often grouped into hardneck and softneck types. Hardneck garlic typically excels where winters are colder and produces a scape. Softneck types often perform well in milder winter regions and tend to store longer.

Helpful next read: Hardneck vs. softneck garlic.

Step 2: Plant at the best time

For most gardens, fall planting is the most reliable route to larger bulbs. The goal is to establish roots before winter, then push strong leaf growth in spring. In mild-winter areas, planting later in fall (or early winter) can be better than planting too early.

Step 3: Start with the biggest cloves

Bulb size is strongly influenced by planting stock. For larger heads, plant the biggest, healthiest cloves you have. Separate bulbs into cloves close to planting time, keep the papery skins on, and plant cloves pointy end up with the flat basal plate down.

Step 4: Space cloves 6 inches apart

If your goal is big bulbs, crowding is the enemy. Space cloves 6 inches apart within the row. Keep rows far enough apart that you can weed and water easily.

Garlic plants growing with room between them

Step 5: Prep soil for drainage and easy root growth

Garlic sizes up best where roots can expand easily and excess water drains away. Before planting, loosen the top 6–8 inches and mix in compost. In heavier soils, raised beds can improve drainage and bulb shape.

If you like to fine-tune inputs, a soil test kit can help guide amendment choices.

Step 6: Mulch for steadier conditions and fewer weeds

Mulch reduces temperature swings, helps hold moisture, and blocks weed competition. After planting, apply a 3–4 inch layer of clean straw or leaves. Top it up if it breaks down over winter.

Step 7: Feed early, then taper late

Big bulbs require strong leaves first. In early spring (as growth resumes), side-dress with compost and/or a nitrogen-forward organic fertilizer. As bulbing begins (often late spring), taper nitrogen so plants shift energy into bulb development.

Step 8: Water steadily, then taper before harvest

Keep moisture consistent during spring growth and early bulbing. As plants near maturity (when lower leaves begin yellowing), taper irrigation so wrappers dry down more cleanly. Avoid soaking the bed late in the season.

Step 9: Remove scapes (hardneck), harvest, and cure correctly

Hardneck garlic produces a flower stalk called a scape. When scapes are tender and curled, remove them to help direct energy into bulb development.

Harvest timing matters for both size and storage. A practical cue: harvest when about half the leaves have yellowed but several green leaves remain. Use a fork or trowel to lift bulbs (don’t yank them), shake off loose soil, and move them out of direct sun.

Garlic hanging to cure in a shaded, airy place

Curing basics: cure bulbs in shade with good airflow until wrappers feel papery and necks are dry. Then trim roots and tops (or braid softnecks) and store in a cool, dry place with ventilation.

Why garlic bulbs stay small (quick troubleshooting)

Cloves were small: start with larger planting stock.
Planted too close: keep cloves 6 inches apart.
Weeds competed early: weed pressure reduces bulb size.
Too much late nitrogen: taper inputs as bulbing begins.
Harvested too early: wait until about half the leaves yellow.
Late heavy watering: taper moisture as maturity approaches.

Conclusion

If you're wondering how to get bigger garlic bulbs, success comes from following the basics throughout the growing season. Start with healthy individual cloves, choose the right types of garlic, and give your garlic plants proper spacing, consistent moisture, and the right fertilizer for garlic. Since garlic is a heavy feeder, using a quality garlic fertilizer or organic fertilizer for garlic early in the season and tapering nutrients as bulbs develop can help improve results.

Whether your goal is growing giant garlic, learning how to grow giant garlic, or simply how to grow great garlic, combining good care with proper harvest timing will reward you with larger, healthier bulbs year after year.

FAQs: How to grow big garlic bulbs

What makes garlic bulbs grow bigger?

If you're wondering how to grow bigger garlic or how to get big garlic bulbs, start by planting a large garlic clove from healthy seed garlic. Full sun, fertile well-drained soil, 6-inch spacing, low weed competition, consistent moisture, and removing the garlic scape on hardneck varieties all help direct energy into bulb development. These practices also support huge garlic cloves and are among the most effective ways for how to increase garlic bulb size.

When should I plant garlic for the largest bulbs?

For most regions, fall is the best time for growing garlic. Plant cloves about 2–4 weeks before the ground freezes so roots can establish before winter dormancy. This gives plants a head start for vigorous spring growth and larger bulbs at harvest.

How far apart should I plant garlic for big bulbs?

Space cloves about 6 inches apart to reduce competition for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Proper spacing is one of the simplest ways how to make garlic grow bigger while improving air circulation and overall plant health.

What is the best fertilizer for garlic?

There isn't a single best fertilizer for garlic for every garden because soil conditions vary. In general, compost combined with a balanced or nitrogen-rich fertilizer for garlic plants early in the growing season works well. Many gardeners also use a slow release fertilizer at planting to provide nutrients gradually. Matching your fertilizer to your soil test is the best way to meet your garlic fertilizer needs.

What is a good garlic fertilizer schedule?

A typical garlic fertilizer schedule begins with compost or a balanced fertilizer at planting, followed by additional nitrogen in early spring as leaves begin active growth. Reduce nitrogen by early summer, when bulbs begin enlarging, since excessive late-season feeding can delay bulb maturation.

How often do you water garlic?

If you're asking how often do you water garlic, the goal is consistent moisture rather than a fixed schedule. Garlic generally needs about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week from rainfall or irrigation during active growth. Reduce watering as harvest approaches to help bulbs mature and their outer wrappers dry properly.

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50 comments

Nick, you might want to consider getting a soil test. Possibly there is not enough phosphorus and nitrogen to grow a good size bulb. Also are you getting enough cold if you are growing hardnecks?

Elisabeth, as long as the garlic leaves are fully composted, they should not be a problem.

Hi there,

I’ve been growing hard neck garlic in Northern Ontario for a few years now. The bulbs are full sized, but I’m only getting 2 or 3 massive cloves per bulb. Every so often I do get a bulb with 4 to 6 cloves but it’s rare.

These are purple stripe garlic and everywhere says that a bulb should have between 8 and 10 cloves, but I’ve never seen a bulb come close to that.

The plants are otherwise large and healthy. They grow in well drained soil and deep mulch.

I’ve read that you shouldn’t plant legumes in soil that previously had garlic planted in it. I just finished curing my garlic and am getting ready to put the discarded leaves from the garlic plants into the compost. Would compost containing garlic leaves also be detrimental to legumes if added to the soil prior to planting?

Elisabeth, hard to say what your garlic needs, without knowing what level of nutrients you have in your soil. You may want to consider doing a soil test to find out. Garlic can not size up for several reasons: not enough phosphorus and nitrogen, not the right garlic for your growing zone (hardnecks will not size up if they do not get enough cold in winter), soil too warm in the summer (which will cause bulbs to stop increasing in size). If you do not want to feed with any animal based fertilizers, you can use soft rock phosphate for phosphorus and soy-based fertilizers or alfalfa meal for your nitrogen. Kelp has no to very little nitrogen or phosphorus, not sure the amount of nutrients in alfalfa tea.